2. Name 3 to 5 of the most important or frequently used software (desktop or cloud) products in your practice and describe, briefly, how you use them?

FreshBooks – There’s nothing better for invoices and allowing clients to pay their invoices themselves online. I use Authorize.net through my bank (BB&T) to process the online payments.

EchoSign – I work with clients all over the country, so getting papers signed isn’t easy. EchoSign does e-signatures. We send a fee agreement out via email. The client can e-sign in their browser (or even a smartphone) in seconds. We can even fax an e-signed authorization form to DMV to get client driving records.

Evernote – This is a handy, free note-taking application. It has versions for desktop (PC and Mac), mobile phones, and web browser. All your notes stay synchronized no matter what version of the software you’re using. I find it extremely useful for the random bits of information that don’t belong with a particular client. I also draft blog posts in Evernote when my netbook isn’t online. And I can easily add / edit / retrieve notes on-the-go using their newly improved Android app on my phone.

KeePass – Password storage app (free) for all those logins we need. Too many people are cavalier with their passwords. If you use the same password for multiple things, you’re hosed if someone gets that password. KeePass makes is dead simple to create a unique, strong, random password for everything. And you can easily retrieve them when you need to login again. I also have a separate “firm” password store that my assistant has access to (we share it using Dropbox). This way her passwords are safe, and I know exactly which ones I’ve given to her.

3. What’s your favorite tech tool under $100?

My Blue Snowball USB microphone. It’s a pretty cheap price for a high quality mic. I’m currently using it in combination with my web cam for marketing videos. I’m also planning to do some presentation-slide-type videos where the video itself is basically presentation slides and I’m speaking through the mic for audio. It could also be used for podcasts, etc.

4. Name on favorite app for phone or ipad.

Come on Carolyn – what about Android? Do I have to just pick one? Dropbox. It gives me access to all my firm files from the palm of my hand. It’s been great when I’ve gotten some urgent email and need to review a file quickly to respond. Just pull it up on my phone with Dropbox and send the reply right out.

If I get two apps, the second is Angry Birds. It’s the antithesis of productivity, but a load of fun!

5. What do you use for legal research?

We have free Fastcase through the Virginia State Bar. When I need more than that, I also have a Jenkins Law Library membership for Lexis. And the local public library has a respectable law library (especially considering the relatively small size of the town). It has cases, codes, and a good number of CLE publications. Plus, there’s a Westlaw terminal.

6. And…off tech…what’s the neatest and/or most useful piece of non-tech swag that you keep on your desk or in your briefcase?

I’m really boring. The only thing I can come up with are my juggling balls that stay on my desk. I’m trying to learn to juggle. I’ve been known to do that while talking on the phone, using my headset of course.